The 2008 Australian Defence Force Program represented my first time at the helm of this important engagement initiative. I am therefore proud to report that the participation rate of 33 parliamentarians was a new record with the previous highest participation rate being 24 in 2006. Not only was there a strong bipartisan mix among 13 of the 15 options taken up, but
more importantly, 14 of the 33 participants were new recruits undertaking their first ADFPP attachment. To date 150 current and former Senators and Members of Parliament have participated in the program.
The success of last year’s program only serves to underline the growing importance fellow parliamentarians place on obtaining a first hand appreciation of the work of the Australian Defence Force. In this sense, the fundamental aims of the program are being met. This is the only program of its nature that offers us the unique and often intimate experiences of the challenges of service life and the opportunity to interact on a personal level with the men and women of the Australian Defence Force proudly serving their country. It also offers each of us the chance to gain a broader understanding of the capabilities of the Australian Defence Force and the application of ‘military power’ in the pursuit of strategic Government policy. A selection of testimonials presented in this brochure attest to the merits of this important program.
The program prides itself on being openly bi-partisan and all Federal parliamentarians are warmly encouraged to participate. Members and Senators have the opportunity to participate in attachments offered by each of the three Services as well as several unique opportunities to visit operational theatres. There is something to satisfy everyone’s interests, ranging from visits to training establishment and the world of military academia, to major exercises and operational deployments around the globe.
The complementary component of the program is the exchange element whereby up to 15 ADF personnel are ‘attached’ to Parliament House during a sitting week later in the year. These attachments provide an equally unique experience for our future Defence leaders with the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the environment in which we operate. The mutual understanding achieved through this aspect of the Program cannot be overstated and, as ever, the Program stands in debt to those Parliamentarians who offer to host the Defence participants in Parliament House for this important week.
In this the ninth year since the inception of the ADFPP I wholeheartedly commend it to you and look forward to hearing of your experiences as they unfold.
The Hon. Dr Mike Kelly, AM, MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence
